England cruise past Sri Lanka to reach final

England’s unstoppable advance to the final of the World Twenty20 was completed on Thursday with a performance by a team that bears all the hallmarks of a champion side.

Just 40 overs now stand between England and their first ever World Cup title after Sri Lanka were swept aside in a semi-final which was so one-sided that at the halfway stage Paul Collingwood’s players could already start requesting their favourite rooms at the Barbados Hilton.

Kevin Pietersen will no doubt have a penthouse suite booked. He showed no signs of jetlag making an unbeaten 40 that included a six and four combination which took England over the line with 24 balls to spare.